Bottle filling and corking machine.



No. 673.569. Patented my 7, |901.

1:. avm-Hoax.

B'lIT'izEV FILLING AND CDRKING MACHINE.

(Applicltidn. med Aug. 18, 1899. Renewed Get 2B, 1900.)

3 Sheets-Sheet I.

' (no Model.)

@w55 @22E/2U@ Patented May 7, |90I.

C. B. VAN HOB-N.

BOTTLE FILLING AND CORKING MACHINE.

(Application led Aug. 18, 1.899.- Renewed Oct. 23, 1900.) Y

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

TH: MORRIS trims ca., Immo-uwe.. wumnoron.-n. c.

Patented May 7, |90I.

c, B. vAN HORN. BOTTLE FILLING AND CORKING. MACHINE. (Appumion med Ang. 1e, i899. n anewed ocr. 2s, 1900.7)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

TH: mams PETERS co.. PNo'ru-Lnnm. wAsHxNG'roN. u. cA

' UNITED STATESA PATENT EEICE.-

CHARLES n. VAN HORN, on DETROIT, MICHIGAN, AssIeNOR To EDWARD e. MINER, JR., OE ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

BOTTLE FILLING AND CORKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N O. 673,569, dated '7, 1 901i. Application filed August 18, 1899, Renewed October 23, 1900. Serial No'. 34,063. (No model.)

T a/ZZ whom, t Hefty concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES B. VAN HORN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Bottle Filling and Corking Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othro ers'skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention is directed to improvements in machines for filling and corking bottles, andthe following description, read in connection with the accompanying drawings, will enable any one skilled in the art to which my invention relates to comprehend its nature and to practice it in the form in which I prefer to employ it; lbut it will be understood zo that my invention is not limited to the precise embodiment herein described and illustrated, as many modifications and equivalent changes may be made by the skilled constructor to carry out the invention. The cork which my invention is especially constructed to apply to the bottle is what is generally known as the crown cork, and the invention, so far as it relates to the filling operation, is designed for use in the machine organized and operated as set ont in an application for patent filed by me on or about the 113th day of December, 1898, numbered serially 698,99),'and to which, for the purpose of an understanding of such filling operation, reference may be had; but the im-l provements are not necessarily confined to such an organized apparatus.

The several mechanisms which perform the various steps of the operation are actuated lo` through connections with a cam one-quarter turn of whichimpartspnotion to all the mechan ism necessary to perform the work of what I term the first movement, which consists, first, insealing the bottle; second, in sealing the cork-passage; third, in locking the bottlesupport against4 the pressure required to apply the cork, and, fourtl, in operating a valve forming a three-way opening to admit counter-pressure and liquid simultaneously tothe 5o bottle to be filled. These four operations are,

as stated, all accomplished by the one-quarter turn of the cam, and by this rst movement 'the bottle is filled, and thereafter the second movement takes place and is caused by another one-fourth revolution of the cam. This second movement consists, first, in closing the three-way opening; second, in applying the cork to the neck of the bottle; third,

in releasing the bottle-support, and, fourth,

in carrying all the mechanisms to their origi- 6o nal or normal positions. These four operations in the second movement are also accomplished by acne-fourth revolution of' the cam.

By these two movements of the cam, which turn it one-half revolution, a bottle is filled and corked. By rotating the cam one full revolution the mechanism is operated to fill and cork two bottles.

The main feature of the balanced-valve inlet, as shown in Figure 5 of the application 7o filed December l2, 1898, Serial No. 698,999, is to retain the liquid-line at the flowing-point against the counter-pressure; furthermore, to allow the liquid to ow by gravity and to reduce the counter-pressure in the same cylinder. This balanced valve inlet further serves to retain the liquid at the iiowing-point when the bottle has been filled withoutchanging any conditions whatsoever, and thereby making it impossible for the liquid to flow 8o into the counter-pressure inlet.

A further object of the balanced-valve inlet is to increase or decrease the coun-terpressure in proportion to the pressure on the liquid-inlet.' 85

An object of my present invention is to construct a bottling-machine for filling bottles with carbonated liquid under a counter-pressure, in which the bottle is placed in substantially a horizontal position to be filled. 9o The cork-applying mechanism, as Well as the support for holding the bottle, operates approximately horizontally.

Various other objects are soughtto be obtained by means of my invention, and -they will be fully set forth in the following description and operation, forming a part of this specification, and the details of construe` tion will be specifically described and then v more particularly pointed out in the claims roo hereunto appended.

ln describing my invention in detail referf 4 is a pinion 6, meshing with gear-teeth proence is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification, and wherein like figures of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved bottling-machine. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the bottle-support and bottle-locking means. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional View of the filling-head and the corking means, showing the parts of said filling-head in the lirst position. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional View of the filling-head, showing the parts in the second position during the filling operation. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the same, showing the parts in the third position, after the cork has been applied to the bottle. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional View of the clutch, taken onthe vline 6 6 of Fig. 7. same, taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings by referencenumerals, 1 designates the frame of a suitable construction to support the filling-head and bottle-support, which will be herein-,

after fully described. The frame is preferably provided with suitable apertures or the like to receive means whereby a series of similar frames may be secured together. In the upper portion of the frame is a shaft 2, on which is rotatably mounted a cam 3, and in a series of machines said shaft 2 extends through the entire series and has a cam of the same vconstruction rotatably mounted thereon for each individual machine.

Journaled in a bearing of the frame lis the main shaft 4, said shaft extending through the series of machines and is adapted to receive power from any suitable source. Keyed on the shaft 4isaclutch-disk 5. (See Figs. 6 and 7.) Looselymounted on the shaft vided in the periphery of the cani 3. The pinionl 6 has a cylindrical extension 7, which projects into a recess in the clutch-disk 5 and is formed with depressions to receive clutchrollers 8, the rollers being interposed between the extension and the Wall of the recess.

. Pivotally secured to the lower part of the frame 1 is a foot-lever 9. Fulcrumed to said lever 9 is a rod 10, the upper end of which is pivoted to one arm of a bell-crank lever ll. The otherarm of the lever 11 operates, in connection with a shoulder on the clutch-disk, to bring the pinion into and out of engagement with the disk, as will be understood. One full revolution of the pinion operates to turn the cam preferably one-fourth revolution.

Pivotally secured to a lug 12, projecting rearwardly from the frame 1 and near the topv thereof, is a rock-lever 14, provided at its lower end with a roller, which is conued in a cam-groove formed in one face of the cam. Securedzto the top of the frame 1 in any suitable -manner is a support 15, having formed preferably integral therewith a filling-head, which is provided with a back-pressu re cham- Fig. 7 is an end View of thel larged portion 27.

ber 16 and a liquid-chamber 17. (See Figs. 3, 4, and 5.) Leading to the back-pressure chamber is a pipe 18, which communicates with an equalizing-chamber, such as is shown and described in the application filed December 12, 1898, hereinbefore referred to. Leading to the liquid-chamber is a pipe 19, which also communicates with the equalizing-chamber. chamber which communicates with the backpressure chamber 16 and the liquid-chamber 17 through openings 2land 22.

Formed in the front face of the filling-head and around the chamber is an annular recess receiving a rubber gasket 23, which is held in the recess by means of a ring 24, the latter being secured in position by means of adjusting-screws 25.

Formed integral with the filling-head and projecting rearwardly therefrom is a tubulaiyextension 26, which is'provided with an en- Reciprocating in the chamber in the filling-head and extension is a tube 28, and on the forward end of said tube is a screw-threaded flange 29, securing a rubber valve-ring 3U on the end of the tube 28. The internal chamber of the rear portion 3l of the tube 28 is of greater diameter than the forward end. Secured in said enlarged portion 31 is a screw-threaded fiange 32. To

form a tight joint between the enlarged tube portion 27 and the tube portion 31, packing is introduced and held in position by a packinggland 33.

Pivotally secured to the upper end of the lever 14 is a tube 34, on the forward end of which is a hardened-steel head 35. To form a tight joint vbetween the tube portion 31 and the tube 34, suitable packing is placed in the recess 36 and held in place by a packinggland 37. Passing throughthe tube 34 and projecting beyond the outer face thereof is a stop-pin 38, said pin. operating against the ilange 32.

Reciprocably confined in the tube 34 is a plug 39, which is provided with an annularshoulder 40, fitting the inner face of the tube 34. Secured to the forward end of said movable plug 39 is a head 41, the inner end of which forms a gland to hold packing in recess 42. The rear end of the plug 39 is provided with a slot 43, through which the pin 38 passes. Secured to the inner face of the tube 28, near its forward end, are spring-lingers 44, which are adapted to engage and hold the crown cork against the hardened end of tube 34. i

Fulcrumed to the frame 1 is a rock-lever 45, which is provided at its upper end with gear-teeth 46. The lower end of said lever 45 engages a cam-groove formed in the opposite face of the cam 3.' .The teeth 46 on the upper end of the lever 45 mesh with a rack-bar 20, slidable in a groove in the lower portion of the support 15. Secured to the rack-bar 20, in any suitable manner at a predetermined distance fromY the filling-head is a fork 47,

The filling-head is provided with a IOO IIO

which is moved by the rack-bar 2O against the ring 24 to compress the rubber gasket 23 to engage the neck of the bottle when introduced,thereby hermetically sealing said neck. During the operation of filling and corking the bottle the rubber gasket engages the neck of'the bottle just back of the groove formed therein to receive the uted portion of the cap, the rubber gasket and bottle remaining stationary throughout the entire operation of lling and corking the bottle regardless of the length of the bottle, the diierence in the lengths ofthe bottles being provided forin the bottle-support.

48 denotes a spring coiled aroundthe gland 37 and interposed between the pin 38 and a shoulder in the tube 28. This spring operates to force the valve-ring against the forward wall of the filling-head chamber.

49 denotes a spring coiled around the plug 39, between the shoulder 40 thereon and a shoulder on the tube 34. This spring 49 operates to move the plug 39 to force the bottle out of the filling-head after the same has been iilled. During the operation of lling the bottles with carbonated liquid under a counter-pressure it is absolutely necessary to always maintain a perfect seal between the gasket 23 and the neck of the bottle as Well as at all the movable joints. Reciprocating in a suitable support at the forward end of the frame 1 is a tube 50, which is provided with an enlarged portion 51. Secured in the rearward end of the enlarged portion 5l is a screw-threaded flange 52, serving as a bearing for the rack-bar 20. A spring 53 is coiled around the rack-bar between a shoulder 52'6L thereon and the flange 52 and operates to retract the rack-bar. Secured to the enlarged portion 51 in any suitable manner is a split collar 54, which has formed, preferably integral therewith, a bottle-support 55, the split collar allowing the bottle-support to be adjusted to accommodate bottles of different capacity. Secured to the under side of the tube 50 is a toothed plate 56. In the openingin the frame through which the tube 50 reciprocates and held in place by means of lugs formed thereon is a toothed plate 57, which is adapted to engage and mesh with the toothed plate 56 when a dog 58, operatively connectedwith the lever 45 by an adjustable rod 59, is brought into engagement therewith to lock the bottle-support against the force required to apply the seal to the neck of the bottle. After the bottle-support has been locked in position by the dog 58 the pressure on the bottom of the bottle is removed, the bottle being held firmly in position by the compression of the rubber gasket 23 around the neck of the bottle.

During the first one-fourth revolution of the cam the lower end of the lever 45 is moved forward and the upper end rearward, carrying with it the bar 20 and tube 50 and also moving the bottle-support toward the fillinghead until the mouth of the bottle comes .with the inside of the cork.

in contact with the inside of the cork, when movement of the tube 50 is checked. The bar 20, however, continues its traverse until the lever 45 has completed its movement, the spring 53 compressing and thereby preventing injury to the bottle.

To lill and cork a bottle with the above-described mechanism, a crown-cork is placed between and held by the spring-fingers 44, carried by the tube 28, the outer side of the cork-flange contacting with the hardenedsteel head 35 of the tube 34. The bottle is then positioned in the bottle-support, and through the bar 2f) the bottle-support is moved to bring the mouth of the bottle into contact The same movement of the bar 2O carries the fork 47 into engagement with the ring 24, which compresses the rubber gasket 23, hermetically sealing the neck of the bottle and holding the same in position. The tube 34 is moved rearwardly, carrying With it the tube 28, plugk 39, and cork, and opening a passage-way for the back pressure and liquid to the bottle.

vThese steps in the operation are produced by the first one-fourth revolution of the cam. After the bottle is full the cam is moved another one-fourth revolution, Which carries the upper end of the lever 14 forward, compressing the spring 48,and said spring through its increased tension moves forwardly the tube 28, closing the filling-head chamber or what .may be termed the three-way opening.

The lever 14 continues its forward movement, carrying the tube 34 with it, until the cork comes in contact with the mouth of the bottle. The tube 34 continues to move forward, the steel head 35 engaging the outer edge of the flange of the crown-cork, forcing said Iiange into engagement with the neck of the bottle. The head in the movement of the tube 34 forces the spring-fingers 44 outwardly, thereby releasing the cork. The same onefourth revolution of the cam unlocks the bottle-support and releases the bottle, and the tension of the spring 49 against the plug 39 forces the bottle out of the filling-head, and the parts are restored to their normal positions.

Particular attention is called to the construction of the cork-applying tube. Heretofore the cork-applying tube has been constructed with an internal taper to engage the cork and force the flange into engagement with the neck of the bottle. With such construction should one bottle be longer than another the cork-applying tube moving the same distance each time would break the bottle unless provision were made thereagainst in the bottle support. Furthermore, the power required to hold the bottle against the pressure required to set the cork is sufliciently great to force the mouth of the bottle entirely through the cork. In my construction the mouth of the bottle, regardless of its length, projects the same distance in the filling-head and is held in the one position during the en- IOO tire operation of filling' and corking. Moreover, the cork-applying tube is of the same internal diameter throughout and engages the cork-fiange only and does not come in conl tact with the crown of the cork, as is done in other machines used for the same purpose. The same pressure is put 4on each cork applied to the bottle, regardless of itslength.

My improved machine is designed for continuous operation, and for this purpose, re-

ferring to Fig. l, the main shaft 4 is powerdriven, a belt-pulley thereon being shown by dotted lines, and this continuous operation` renders the filling and cork-applying mech-` anism automatic under the control of an attendant by the clutch mechanism hereinbefore described.

I claim as my inventionl. In a bottle filling and corking machine,

a filling-head provided with a chamber hav-l ing openings, a tube reciprocably confined in said chamber and having an annular valve` at the forward end thereof adapted to control said openings, a cork-applying tube reciprocably con fined in the tube, means on the firstnamed tube adapted to hold the cork against y,

the forward end of the cork-applying tube,

and a plug reciprocably7 confined in the corkapplying tube and adapted to force the bottle out of the filling-head when the same has been filled and corked.

2. In a bottle filling and corking machine,` a filling-head provided with a chamber hav. ing openings, an annular valve reciprocating;

in the chamber to control said openings, a cork-applying tube reciprocating in the valve,

a lever pivotally connected With the cork-ap-v plying tube to reciprocate the same, a plug` reciprocating in the cork-applying tube tol force the iill'ed and corked bottle out of theiilling-head, a cam to impart motion to the, lever, a gasket around the bottle-opening of` the chamber, and means operating.against` the gasket to compress the same and form a` tight seal with the neck of the inserted bottle.

3. In a bottle filling and corking machine, a filling-head having a chamber, a pressurechamber and a liquid-chamber in communi-1 cation with the iilling-head chamber, a tube terminating in an annular valve reciprocat ing in said filling-head chamber and controlling the passages between the chambers, a'

5. lIn a bottle filling and corking machine,

a filling-head having a chamber provided with a bottle-opening and passages leading to a liquid-supplier and a pressure-supplier, means in the chamber for controlling said passages, and separate means in the chamber for applying the cork. Y

6. In a bottle filling and corking machine, a lling-head havinga chamber provided with a bottle-opening and passages leading to a liquid-supplier and a pressure-supplier, means in the chamber for controlling said passages, means in the chamber for applying the cork and for expelling the corked bottle, a compressible gasket around the bottle-opening, and means for compressing the gasket against the neck of an inserted bottle.

7. In a bottle filling and corking machine,

a filling-.head having a chamber provided with a bottle-opening and passages leading to a liquid-supplier and a pressure-supplier, means in the chamber for controlling said passages,

means iu the chamber for applying the cork, a compressible gasket around the bottle-opening, a ring at the gasket, and means operating against the ring to compress the gasket against the neck of an inserted bottle.

8. In a bottle filling and corking machine, a filling-head carrying bottle-filling means and cork-applying means, a compressible gasket around the bottle-opening of the filling-head, a reciprocable bar operatively connected with the driving mechanism, a bottle-support, and means on the bar for compressing the gasket against the neck of an inserted bottle.

9. In a bottle filling and corking machine, a filling-head having a bottle-opening, means on the head for forming a tight seal With the inserted bottle, a bottle-support, a spring-sustained bar for moving the support, and means for locking the support vwhen the bottle is properly positioned'.

l0. In a bottle filling and corking machine,

a iilling-h'ead having a bottle-opening a com-Y pressible gasket around said opening, a bar operatively connected with the driving mechanism, a tube slidable on said bar, a spring between shoulders on the bar and tube, a bottle-support on the tube and locking and releasing means for the tube.

1l. In a bottle filling and corking machine, a iilli-ng -head having a bottle -opening surrounded by a gasket, a ring at said gasket, a rack-'bar connected with the driving mechanism, a fork on the bar operating in the forward movement of the latter to press the ring against the gasket and form a tight seal With the inserted bottle-neck.

12. `In a bottle filling and corking machine, A

a Iilling-head having a chamber provided with a central bottle-opening and lateral passages leading to a liquid-supplier and a pressuresupplier, a tube reciprocating in the chamber the forward end of the tube forming a valve to control the said passages, a tube Within the valve-tube, means for reciprocating said second tube, a spring between shoulders on the IOO IIO

two tubes to impel the valve-tube forward, means on the valve-tube for holding a cork, and cork-driving means.

13. In a bottle filling and corking machine, a filling-head having a chamber provided wil h a central bottle-opening and lateral passages leading to a liquid-supplier and a pressuresupplier,a spring-impelled tu be reciprocating in the chamber the forward end of the tube forming a valve to control the said passages, devices on the tube to hold a cork, a tube reciprocating in the valve-tube and having a shoulder engaging a shoulder on the valvetube, a plug reciprocatimer in the second tube and shouldered to engage the shoulder on the latter, and a spring between shoulders on the second tube and plug operating to propel the latter for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signatur in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES B. VAN HORN. Vitnesses:

J. J. NELLIGAN, D. L. GITT. 

